LAUSR

Abstract The effect of anisotropy on defect mode features in cholesteric liquid crystals was investigated. The problem is solved by Ambartsumian's layer addition modified method. Two cases are considered. In the first case, it is assumed that the defect layer is not absorbing and the effect of the refractive index anisotropy on the reflection, the polarization plane rotation, polarization ellipticity, eigen polarizations, and the total field intensity in the defect layer is investigated. In the second case, it is considered that the defect layer has the properties of the isotropy of refraction and absorption anisotropy, and the influence of the anisotropy of the absorption of the defect layer on the polarization plane rotation, the polarization ellipticity, and the eigen polarizations is investigated.